Vehicle mountable plow

ABSTRACT

A plow apparatus is disclosed for mounting on a mobile base, and includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow support assembly may be mounted to the plow toward the upper boundary of the plow. The plow adjustment assembly may comprise a tilt assembly that is configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow. The fluid actuation assembly may be configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount, and the fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to vehicle-mountable plows and moreparticularly pertains to a new vehicle mountable plow having enhancedweight and performance characteristics.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Plows or blades that are mountable on a vehicle have been utilized topush materials such as snow, dirt, gravel, and similar materials.However, the known plow systems have suffered from a number ofdisadvantages or drawbacks. For example, the plow systems have beenrelatively heavy, and this factor can restrict the size of the vehicleson which the systems can be used, so only larger vehicles can use suchsystems and the performance of the vehicle may be affected.

Another drawback has been the vulnerability to damage when immovableobjects on the ground are struck by the plow, which has led to the useof spring-release systems and bulkier structures to resist damage, whichagain leads to heavier system weights.

The vehicle mountable plow according to the present disclosuresubstantially departs from the conventional concepts and the designs ofthe known prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarilydeveloped for the purpose of having decreasing weight and enhancingperformance.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofvehicle mountable plows now present in the prior art, the presentdisclosure describes a new vehicle mountable plow which may be utilizedfor enhanced weight and performance characteristics.

The present disclosure relates to a plow apparatus for mounting on amobile base that includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plowhaving a moldboard having an upper boundary, a lower boundary, andopposite ends, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount andconfigured to support the plow on the mount; and a plow adjustmentassembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plowsupport assembly may be mounted to the plow toward the upper boundary ofthe plow.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a plow apparatus for mounting on amobile base includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, an elongateplow having opposite longitudinal ends, a plow support assembly mountedon the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, and a plowadjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. Theplow adjustment assembly may comprise a tilt assembly configured toadjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantiallyhorizontal axis of the plow.

In still another aspect, a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile basethat includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow, a plowsupport assembly configured to support the plow on the mount, a plowadjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow, anda fluid actuation assembly configured to provide fluid to the plowadjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount. Thefluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust theorientation of the plow.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the more importantelements of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalelements of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment orimplementation in greater detail, it is to be understood that the scopeof the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and implementations and is thus capable ofbeing practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present disclosure. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

The advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention,along with the various features of novelty that characterize theinvention, are disclosed in the following descriptive matter andaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and when consideration is givento the drawings and the detailed description which follows. Suchdescription makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new vehicle mountable plowapparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus, accordingto an illustrative embodiment, with the plow in a forward position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus with theplow tilted partially rearward.

FIG. 4 is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus with theplow tilted rearward.

FIG. 5 is a schematic left side view of the plow apparatus, according toan illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic rear side view of the plow apparatus, according toan illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the plow adjustment assemblyand fluid actuation assembly, according to an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through7 thereof, a new vehicle mountable plow embodying the principles andconcepts of the disclosed subject matter will be described.

A plow apparatus 10 of the disclosure is suitable for mounting on amobile base, which may be a vehicle motorize or non-motorized, such asan automobile, truck, all terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, tractor andother vehicles and even mobile bases that are not motorized.

In general, the plow apparatus 10 may include a mount 12 for mounting toa mobile base, a plow 14, a plow support assembly 16 configured tosupport the plow on the mount, a plow adjustment assembly 18 configuredto adjust an orientation of the plow, and a fluid actuation assembly 20configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orientthe plow with respect to the mount.

In greater detail, the mount 12 may comprise a mounting assemblyconfigured to removably mount on a receiver on a vehicle or other mobilebase, although it will be realized that other types of mountingstructures may also be employed. The mounting assembly 12 may comprise abase portion 22 for mounting on the mobile base and an upper portion 24mounted on the base portion 22.

The base portion 22 of the mounting assembly 12 may in turn include areceiver mount 26 for removably coupling to a hitch receiver on themobile base, and a base member 28. The receiver mount 26 may extendrearwardly from the base member 28 and may terminate in a free end thatis suitable for insertion in the receiver of a hitch. This feature ofthe apparatus 10 permits a highly versatile style of mounting, as manyvehicles are adaptable to include a receiver hitch mount of the typecompatible with the receiver mount 26. This style of mounting alsotypically permits mount and dismount to be accomplished with theinsertion and withdrawal of a pin extending through the receiver mount26 and the receiver hitch. The receiver mount 26 may include a tubemember 30 and a flange member 32 that is mounted on the tube member. Theflange member 32 may be located toward a forward end of the tube member,and may include a pair of laterally-spaced ears 34.

In various embodiments of the apparatus 10, the position of the basemember 28 with respect to the receiver mount 26 is adjustable, and maybe vertically adjustable with respect to the receiver mount when thereceiver mount is oriented for normal mounting on a hitch receiver. Thebase member 28 may include a plurality of mounting holes that providedifferent mounting locations for the base member on the receiver mount.The upper portion 24 may be mounted on the base portion 22 and mayextend upwardly from the base portion. The upper portion 24 may providea mounting point for various elements of the plow apparatus describedelsewhere in this disclosure.

The plow 14 of the plow apparatus 10 provides the primary surfaces forengaging materials that are to be moved by the apparatus. The plow 14may comprise a plow assembly. The plow assembly 14 may comprise amoldboard 36 that has an upper boundary 38, a lower boundary 40, andopposite ends 42, 43. The moldboard 36 has a front 44 and a rear 48. Thefront 44 may have a concave front surface for receiving and guiding thematerial to be moved by the plow apparatus 10. In greater detail, themoldboard 36 may comprise a plow frame 48, a skin 50 mounted on the plowframe, and a cutting edge 52 positioned adjacent to the lower boundary40 of the moldboard. The cutting edge 52 may be mounted on the plowframe 48.

The plow 14 may further comprise an upper attachment structure 54 thatis mounted on the moldboard 36, and the structure 54 may be mounted onthe plow frame 48 toward the upper boundary 38 of the moldboard. Theplow 14 may also include a lower attachment structure 56 mounted on themoldboard 36. The lower attachment structure 56 may be mounted on theplow frame 48, and may be located closer to the lower boundary 40 of themoldboard 36 than the upper attachment structure 54. In someembodiments, the upper 54 and lower 56 attachment structures are locatedon an upper half of the moldboard 36 adjacent to the upper boundary 38,and in other embodiments the upper 54 and lower 56 attachment structuresare located on an upper quarter of the moldboard 36.

The plow support assembly 16, which may be utilized to support the plow14 on the mount 12 and thus may be mounted on the mount, may also bepivotable with respect to the mount, and may be pivotable about asubstantially horizontal axis with respect to the mount. Additionally,the plow 14 may be mounted on the plow support assembly 16, and also maybe pivotable with respect to the plow support assembly, and may pivotabout a horizontal axis.

The plow support assembly 16 may be mounted to the plow 14 toward theupper boundary 38 of the plow, and the plow support assembly ispreferably mounted to the plow at a location that is closer to the upperboundary than the lower boundary 40 of the plow, and is most preferably(although not critically) mounted on the plow adjacent to the upperboundary. The mounting of the plow support assembly 16 toward the upperboundary 38 of the plow 14 can provide significant benefits. Thischaracter of mounting permits the plow 14 to be tilted about an axisthat is relatively high with respect to the ground surface when thecutting edge 52 is rested on the ground surface.

In conventional plows, common practice is to employ a tilt axis that isrelatively close to the ground, and when the moldboard hits an unmovableobject on the ground the plow tips forward to allow the snowplow to passover the object. However, if the object is taller than the height of thetilt axis, it is possible that damage will occur to the plow unit orvehicle at the weakest point. In contrast, in the plow apparatus 10utilizing the relatively high position of the connection between theplow 14 and the plow support assembly 16, the plow 14 has an increasedability to allow the moldboard to trip over a relatively taller objectwithout causing damage to the plow. Further, a larger area is createdbehind the moldboard 36 to accumulate material being plowed when backdragging the plow without crowding the support assembly 16. Also, thelower boundary 40 of the moldboard 36 may be angled rearwardly to reducedrag when the vehicle on which the plow apparatus 10 is mounted isdriven down the road. Still further, the ground clearance of the supportassembly 16 is enhanced when the plow 14 is moved over curbs and otherobstacles.

The plow support assembly 16 may comprise a main member 58 that extendsforwardly from the mount 12. The main member 58 has a forward end 60 anda rearward end 62, and the rearward end 62 may be mounted on the mount12 and the forward end 60 may be mounted on the plow 14. The rearwardend 62 is preferably pivotally mounted on the mount, and may bepivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. The plow 14 may bepivotable with respect to the forward end 60 of the main member 58, andthe plow may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis withrespect to the main member 58.

A secondary member 64 may be included in the plow support assembly 16,and may be mounted on the main member 58. The secondary member 64 may bepivotable with respect to the main member, and may pivot about asubstantially vertical axis. The secondary member 64 may be mounted tothe plow 14, and may be mounted thereto in a pivotable manner so thatthe secondary member is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis.The secondary member 64 may extend generally transverse to the mainmember 58. The secondary member has opposite ends 66, 67, and each ofthe opposite ends may be pivotally mounted on the plow.

The plow adjustment assembly 18 may provide a degree of adjustment tothe orientation of the plow 14. The plow adjustment assembly 18 may beconfigured to utilize a fluid to adjust the orientation of the plow, andmost preferably the fluid has a degree of compressibility, and comprisesa gas. In many suitable embodiments, the gas is environmental air thathas been suitably filtered (e.g., dried) prior to introduction into thesystem.

The plow adjustment assembly 18 may include one or more assemblies thatadjust various aspects of the orientation of the plow 14. In variousembodiments of the plow apparatus 10, the plow adjustment assemblyincludes a lift assembly 70 that is configured to adjust a heightorientation of the plow 14 above, for example, the ground surface onwhich the mobile base rests. The lift assembly 70 may act between themount 12 and the plow support assembly 16, and accordingly the liftassembly 70 may be mounted on the mount and on the plow supportassembly. The lift assembly 70 may comprise a mounting 72 mounted on themount 12 and a mounting 73 mounted on the plow support assembly. Thelift assembly 70 may also include an extendible and contractibleapparatus 74 that is mounted on the mounting 72 on the mount and themounting 73 on the plow support apparatus. The extendible andcontractible apparatus 74 may be extendable to move the mounting 72 andthe mounting 73 away from each other, to thereby cause the plow to loweror move closer to the ground surface. The extendible and contractibleapparatus 74 may be contractible to move the mounting 72 and themounting 73 toward each other, to thereby cause the plow to raise ormove away from the ground surface.

The plow adjustment assembly 18 may also include a tilt assembly 76 thatis configured to adjust an orientation of the plow about a transverseaxis which may be a substantially horizontal axis. The tilt assembly 76may act between the plow support assembly 16 and the plow 14, and thusmay be mounted on the plow support assembly and the plow. The tiltassembly 76 may include a mounting 78 mounted on the plow supportassembly and a mounting 79 mounted on the plow. The mounting 79 on theplow 14 may be mounted on the upper attachment structure 54 of the plow.The tilt assembly may further include an extendible and contractibleapparatus 80 mounted on the mounting 78 on the plow support assembly andthe mounting 79 on the plow. The extendible and contractible apparatus80 may be extendable to move the mounting 78 on the plow supportassembly and the mounting 79 on the plow away from each other to, forexample, tilt the plow 14 forward so that the cutting edge 52 moves in arearward direction. The extendible and contractible apparatus 80 may becontractible to move the mounting 78 and the mounting 79 toward eachother to, for example, tilt the plow 14 backward so that the cuttingedge 52 moves in a forward direction.

Significantly, the ability to adjust the tilt of the plow 14 permits theuser to adjust the angle of attack of the plow with respect to theground surface, and the angle of the cutting edge 52 contacting thesurface. The user may adjust the tilt, and thus the angle of attack fordifferent conditions, such as the condition of the material to be movedby the plow 14. For example, the plow 14 may be rolled back with theupper boundary 38 brought back toward the operator in the vehicle(bringing the cutting edge 52 forward) cut hard packed snow or ice offof a surface. This positioning may also be useful in backdragging theplow 14, which involves pushing the material with the rear 46 of theplow as the supporting vehicle is moved in a rearward direction. Also,the lower boundary 40 may be moved backwardly toward the vehicle to rollsoft snow in a forward direction. This capability is in contrast toplows with a fixed angle of attack, which does not permit suchadaptation to conditions.

In various embodiments, the plow adjustment assembly 18 may also includea pivot assembly 82 that is configured to adjust a yaw orientation ofthe plow 12 about, for example, a substantially vertical axis. The pivotassembly 82 may act between the main member 58 of the plow supportassembly 16 and the secondary member 64 of the plow support assembly,and thus the pivot assembly 82 may be mounted on the main member 58 andthe secondary member 64. The pivot assembly 82 may comprise a mounting84 mounted on the main member 58 of the plow support assembly and amounting 85 on the secondary member 64 of the plow support assembly. Thepivot assembly 82 may also include an extendible and contractibleapparatus 86 that mounted on the mounting 84 on the main member of theplow support assembly and the mounting 85 on the secondary member of theplow support assembly. The extendible and contractible apparatus 86 maybe extendable to move the mounting 84 on the main member and themounting 85 on the secondary member away from each other to, forexample, pivot or rotate the plow 14 to the left. The extendible andcontractible apparatus 86 may also be contractible to move the mounting84 on the main member and the mounting 85 on the secondary member towardeach other to, for example, pivot the plow 14 to the right.

The respective extendible and contractible apparatus 74, 80, and 86 maybe gas actuated, and may be double acting. In various embodiments of theplow apparatus 10, the extendible and contractible apparatus 74, 80, 86may each comprise a piston and cylinder device.

The plow apparatus 10 may also include a fluid actuation assembly 88that is configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly 18to orient the plow 14 with respect to the mount 12. Although anysuitable fluid may be employed to actuate the extendible andcontractible apparatus of the plow adjustment assembly 18, it ispreferable that a gas, and in most cases environmental air, is employedas the working fluid. This approach has the benefit of reducing theweight of the apparatus 10, as the weight of the fluid is basicallyeliminated.

Also, the compressibility of a gas provides a degree of spring that isnot present with relatively incompressible fluids such as liquids, andthis spring character provides some forgiveness in the plow adjustmentassembly 18 when, for example, an immovable object is struck by theplow. Also, the ability of the extensible and contractible apparatus toabsorb a degree of shock or impact may allow for the use of lighterweight materials than would otherwise be possible, since the materialsare protected in some measure from impacts and shocks than would requireheavier materials to resist.

The compressibility of the air also allows the extensible andcontractible apparatus to be biased so that when reduced resistance isencountered, the apparatus is able to move further in the biaseddirection without further fluid needed to be added to the apparatus. Forexample, the extensible and contractible apparatus 74 of the liftassembly may be provided with a sufficient amount of compressed air sothat the apparatus 74 pushes the plow 14 against the ground surface, andis able to press the plow 14 further downwardly if the ground surfaceshould drop relative to the position of the plow apparatus 10. The useof air as a working fluid also makes the use of double acting piston andcylinders more practical, and the need for return springs is eliminated.

In some embodiments, the fluid actuation assembly 88 is mounted on themount 12, and may be located on the upper portion 24 of the mountingassembly. The fluid actuation assembly 88 may include a fluid tank 90for holding the fluid, such as a gas, for use by the elements of theplow adjustment assembly 18, and may be configured to hold the gas in acompressed condition. Significantly, in various embodiments of theapparatus 10, the fluid tank 90 may be formed by the main member 58 ofthe plow support assembly 16.

The fluid actuation assembly 88 may further include a fluid pump 92 forpumping fluid into the fluid tank 90. In some embodiments, the workingfluid of the apparatus 10 comprises a gas, and the fluid pump 92comprises a compressor that pumps compressed gas into the fluid tank.The fluid pump 92 may be mounted on the upper portion 24 of the mount12. The fluid actuation assembly 88 may also include a valve apparatus94 configured to direct fluid or gas from the fluid tank 90 to selectedones of the extensible and contractible apparatus 74, 80, 86. The valveapparatus 94 may be mounted on the upper portion 24 of the mount 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosed subject matter to the exact constructionand operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within thescope of the claims.

1. A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising: a mountfor mounting to a mobile base; a plow having a moldboard having an upperboundary, a lower boundary, and opposite ends; a plow support assemblymounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount;and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation ofthe plow; wherein the plow support assembly comprises upper and lowerattachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upperboundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structureis mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partiallylower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanismwith relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structuresabout respective pivots.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upperan lower attachment structures are located entirely above a midpointbetween the upper and lower boundaries of the plow.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the moldboard of the plow has a width between the upperboundary and the lower boundary, and distances between the upperboundary and the locations of the mounting of the upper and lowerattachment structures to the plow are less than approximately halfone-quarter of the width of the moldboard.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the plow adjustment assembly is located at a vertical levelhigher than the plow.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 where the plowadjustment assembly further comprises a tilt assembly configured toadjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a transverse substantiallyhorizontal axis about which the plow tilts with respect to the plowsupport assembly.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the tilt assemblyof the plow adjustment assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjustthe tilt orientation of the plow such that the tilt assembly acts as aspring that absorbs shocks to the plow.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a pivot assemblyconfigured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow; and wherein the plowadjustment assembly further includes a lift assembly configured toadjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface.
 8. Aplow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising: a mount formounting to the mobile base; an elongate plow having upper and lowerboundaries and opposite longitudinal ends; a plow support assemblymounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount,the plow support assembly comprising upper and lower attachmentstructures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than thelower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to theplow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than theupper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relativemovement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respectivepivots; a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientationof the plow and comprising a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tiltorientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontalaxis of the plow through at least one of the upper or lower attachmentstructures.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tilt assembly of theplow adjustment assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust thetilt orientation of the plow such that the tilt assembly acts as aspring that absorbs shocks to the plow.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9wherein the plow support assembly includes a main member pivotallylinking the plow to the mount, a main member forming a tank configuredto hold a quantity of compressed gas.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a pivot assemblyconfigured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a liftassembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above theground surface.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plow supportassembly is mounted to the plow toward an upper boundary of the plow.14. A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising: a mountfor mounting to the mobile base; a plow comprising upper and lowerboundaries; a plow support assembly configured to support the plow onthe mount and comprising upper and lower attachment structures, whichare both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary,wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at avertical location that is at least partially lower than the upperattachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movementof the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots; aplow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of theplow; and a fluid actuation assembly configured to provide fluid to theplow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount;wherein the fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas toadjust the orientation of the plow.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein the plow adjustment assembly comprises: a lift assemblyconfigured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the groundsurface; a tilt assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plowabout a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis; and a pivot assemblyconfigured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 14 wherein the plow support assembly includes a main memberpivotally linking the plow to the mount, the main member forming a tankconfigured to hold a quantity of compressed gas.